Methods And Devices For Determining And Saving Location Information

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure include devices configured for wireless communication with a mobile computing device having GPS capability that allow a user to record the user&#39;s current location with the user&#39;s mobile computing device without having to physically access the mobile computing device. Such devices can allow a user to mark or record a location or waypoint to a mobile computing device, such as a GPS-enabled mobile phone, using a wireless remote and software configured to enable communication with the mobile computing device. Such devices can enable a user to mark and record locations for navigation without having to physically touch and operate the mobile computing device.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/692,757, filed on Nov. 22, 2019, and titled “Methods And Devices ForDetermining And Saving Location Information”, now allowed, whichapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/203,035, filed on Nov. 28, 2018, and titled “Methods And Devices ForDetermining And Saving Location Information,” now U.S. Pat. No.10,520,577, which application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/592,180, filed Nov. 29, 2017,and titled “Methods And Devices For Determining And Saving LocationInformation And Waypoints For Navigation,” and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/599,414, filed Dec. 15, 2017, and titled “Methods AndDevices For Determining And Saving Location Information And WaypointsFor Navigation,” each of which is incorporated by reference herein inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of determining andsaving location information. In particular, the present invention isdirected to remotes and mobile computing devices for remotelydetermining and saving location information.

BACKGROUND

Currently, a user can mark a current geographic location on a mobilecomputing device, such as a mobile phone. However, there are times whena user may wish to mark or record a location without having hands-onaccess to the mobile computing device.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a method ofsaving a current geographic location of a user with a wireless remoteand a mobile computing device while the user is performing an activity,the wireless remote including an operation unit operably connected to awireless transmission unit, the mobile computing device including awireless communication unit, a GPS sensor, a memory, and a processorconfigured to execute a remote integration application and a GPSapplication. The method includes a user pressing the operation unit,wherein the operation unit includes a button or sensor disposed on ahousing of the wireless remote; sending, with the wireless transmissionunit, a control signal to the mobile computing device in response to thepressing the operation unit; receiving, with the wireless communicationunit at the mobile computing device, the control signal; processing,with the remote integration application, the control signal to determineat least one instruction; performing the at least one instruction withthe GPS application in response to the receiving of the control signal,wherein said performing includes: receiving, from the GPS sensor, GPScoordinates of a current location of the mobile computing device; andstoring the GPS coordinates in the memory; wherein the performing the atleast one instruction with the GPS application further includesrecording a number of times the control signal is received within a timeperiod; and wherein the method further comprises displaying, with themobile computing device and/or the wireless remote, the recorded numberof times the control signal is received within a time period.

In another implementation, the present disclosure is directed to amobile computing device configured to save a current geographic locationof a user while the user is performing an activity, the mobile computingdevice includes a wireless communication unit; a processor; a memory; aglobal positioning system (GPS) sensor; and a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium containing machine-readable instructionsconfigured to cause the processor to perform operations includingreceiving, with the wireless communication unit, a control signal from awireless remote; processing, the control signal to determine at leastone instruction; performing the at least one instruction with a GPSapplication in response to the receiving of the control signal, whereinsaid performing includes: receiving, from the GPS sensor, GPScoordinates of a current location of the mobile computing device; andstoring the GPS coordinates in the memory; wherein the performing the atleast one instruction with the GPS application further includesrecording a number of times the control signal is received within a timeperiod; wherein the operations further comprise displaying, with themobile computing device, the recorded number of times the control signalis received within a time period.

In yet another implementation, the present disclosure is directed to awireless remote configured to save a current geographic location of auser while the user is performing an activity, the wireless remoteincludes a wireless transmission unit; an operation unit configured togenerate an operation unit signal in response to a user input; and acontrol unit configured to transmit, with the wireless transmissionunit, a unique ID and a control signal to a mobile computing device inresponse to receipt of the operation unit signal, wherein the unique IDand control signal are designed and configured to be processed by aremote integration application operated by the mobile computing device,the remote integration application configured, in response to theprocessing of the control signal to determine at least one instructionfor a GPS application operated by the mobile computing device, whereinthe at least one instruction includes storing GPS coordinates of alocation of the mobile computing device, recording a number of times thecontrol signal is received within a time period, and displaying, withthe mobile computing device and/or the wireless remote, the recordednumber of times the control signal is received within a time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example GPS location system that includes awireless remote and a mobile computing device;

FIG. 2 is another illustration of the GPS location system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is another illustration of the GPS location system of FIGS. 1 and2, also illustrating a cloud based secured host.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure include devices configured forwireless communication with a mobile computing device having GPScapability that allow a user to record the user's current location withthe user's mobile computing device 104 without having to physicallyaccess the mobile computing device. Such devices can allow a user tomark or record a location or waypoint to a mobile computing device, suchas a GPS-enabled mobile phone or a GPS-enabled navigational system in acar or a boat, using a wireless remote and software configured to enablecommunication with the mobile computing device. Such devices can enablea user to mark and record locations for navigation without having tophysically touch and operate the mobile computing device.

In one example, a remote device is configured for wireless communicationusing any one of a variety of communication protocols and technologiesincluding, for example, one or more of Bluetooth®, BLE, Near FieldCommunication, Wi-Fi™, ZigBee Z-Wave, 6LoWPAN, Thread, WiFi-ah (HaLow),RFID, etc. and the remote device is configured for controlling aGPS-enabled mobile computing device to perform one or more operationsincluding saving a current geographic location, also referred to hereinas a waypoint for, e.g., navigational purposes. In some examples, awired remote can be used that has a hard-wired connection to the mobilecomputing device.

In some examples, a wireless remote may be configured as a wearabledevice and can be configured to be worn, for example, on a lanyardaround a user's neck, on a strap around a user's wrist, etc. so that itcan be easily accessed for marking or recording a current location tothe user's mobile computing without having to physically access themobile device. This can be useful in a variety of applications, such aswhile driving a boat, car or motorcycle, where a user's attention andhands are required for driving. Such devices can also be useful whilefishing, diving or hunting, where a user may wish to quickly save acurrent location, such as where he caught a fish, where he began a dive,or where he installed a hunting stand, etc. Such devices can also beuseful while walking around inside or outside one's home and wanting tomark locations while not being physically in contact with the mobilecomputing device 104. Such devices can also be useful for counting anumber of locations or waypoints marked while fishing, hunting, hikingor driving which can be useful to the user.

In one aspect, devices made in accordance with the present disclosureinclude electronics for use in the outdoors for the purposes of markingand navigating back to a specific location. As noted above, examples ofuses can include use of a remote for wireless communication with amobile computing device to: (i) mark and record and navigate back to alocation for fishing, diving or driving while on a boat in a lake, riveror ocean; (ii) mark and record and navigate back to a location forhunting, hiking, bird watching or viewing wildlife in the outdoors suchas a forest, field or park; (iii) mark and record and navigate back to alocation near a user's home such as to find a property boundary or wellor septic system for example; and (iv) mark and record and navigate backto a location while driving an automobile, motorcycle, all-terrainvehicle or recreational vehicle (camper).

There are many situations where the use of a wireless remote to mark andrecord a location with a mobile computing device is preferable tomanually marking the location with the mobile computing device itself.For example, when the mobile device must be stored safely to preventdamage or injury to the user, which is often the case while driving aboat, car, motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle or recreational vehicle.

In another aspect, devices made in accordance with the presentdisclosure include electronics for use in the outdoors for the purposesof marking specific locations for navigation and counting the number oflocations or waypoints marked during a trip or during a 24-hour periodusing the devices. As noted above, examples of uses can include use of aremote for wireless communication with a mobile computing device to (i)mark and record locations for fishing, diving or driving in a boat andto count the number of locations or waypoints marked during the tripwhich could be useful for counting the number of fish caught during atrip or the number of dives made during a trip; (ii) mark and recordlocations for hunting, bird watching or viewing wildlife and to countthe number of locations marked during a trip in order to count thenumber of locations or birds or animals seen during a trip or outing;(iii) mark and record locations around a user's home and to count thenumber of locations marked around one's home in order to mark propertyboundaries or specific sites on one's property; and (iv) mark and recordlocations while driving an automobile, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicleor recreational vehicle (camper) and to count the number of locationsmarked in order to count the number of stops or important locations seenduring a trip or outing.

In some examples, a specifically designed and dedicated wireless remoteconfigured for wireless communication, such as Bluetooth® communicationmay be configured to receive one or more of an audible (voice) orphysical command (touch) from a user and in response, send a wirelesswaypoint command to a GPS-enabled mobile computing device. The wirelessremote may include at least one button, and in some examples, only onebutton, for receiving a command from a user. In some examples, thewireless remote may include a sensor, such as a microphone for receivingan audible command from a user.

In one example, a GPS-enabled device may include software configured toprocess one or more signals received from a wireless remote such as awaypoint signal, and in response, cause a GPS software application onthe mobile device to save a current location. In one example, thewireless remote software can be added to a commercially availabledevice, such as downloaded to a mobile phone for use with one or moreGPS applications on the mobile phone such as, for example, a GoogleMaps® application programming interface (API). In another example, thewireless remote software can be added to a commercially availabledevice, such as a navigational system installed in a car or on a boat oron a motorcycle or in a recreational vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows an example GPS location system 100 that includes a wirelessremote 102 and a mobile computing device 104. The present disclosureencompasses wireless remotes that are configured to work with virtuallyany mobile computing device 104 with GPS capability. Examples of mobilecomputing device 104 s with GPS capability include, for example, mobilephones, dedicated mobile GPS units, navigation systems for, e.g., carsor boats, and depth finders or sonar devices for boats.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in the illustrated example, the mobile computingdevice 104 is configured with an operating system 106 and at least oneapplication program 108. The mobile computing device 104 may alsoinclude a remote integration application 110 that, as described morebelow, can be used to integrate the wireless remote 102 with the mobilecomputing device 104 to enable signals received from the wireless remote102 to control one or more functions of the application program 108. Themobile computing device 104 also includes a wireless communication unit112 112 for establishing a wireless communication link with anotherdevice, such as the illustrated wireless remote 102. The mobilecomputing device 104 also includes a GPS sensor 114 which can includehardware and software for determining a geographic location of themobile computing device 104. The mobile computing device 104 can alsoinclude a local memory storage unit 116 which can be accessed by theapplication program 108 and operating system 106 to store information.

Wireless remote 102 includes a housing 120 and an operation unit 122disposed on the housing. As described more below, operation unit 122 maybe a button or other sensor for receiving a user input for generating acontrol signal, such as a control signal for instructing mobilecomputing device 104 to save a current geographic location. In theillustrated example, wireless remote 102 is designed as a very simplewearable device with a small form factor, and includes only oneoperation unit 122, e.g., only one button to provide a very easy to usedevice. Housing 120 may also include an attachment device 124 forattaching the remote 102 to a user, such as one or more of a clip forattaching the wireless remote to a user's clothing, and/or a lanyard,and/or a keychain loop. Thus, as described more below, wireless remote102 may be a relatively small device with only one button 122 that canbe attached to a user's hat or shirt or pants for easy access. A userengaged in an activity can quickly tap or press operation unit 122 to,for example, store a current location in mobile computing device 104while using his/her other hand to continue to perform the activity, suchas driving a vehicle such as a car, boat, or all-terrain vehicle,holding a fishing rod, etc. In other examples, wireless remote mayinclude a plurality of operation units 122 and other features, such as adisplay, or microphone, as described more below.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the illustrated example, the wireless remote 102includes a control unit 202 an operation unit 122 and a wirelesstransmission unit 206. The control unit 202 can be, for example, amicrocontroller, a single chip, an embedded controller or amicroprocessor and can be electrically connected with the operation unit122 and the wireless transmission unit 206 through, for example, one ormore of a wire, or a metal pattern on a circuit board, or a conductor,or some passive components, such as resistors, capacitors or inductors.

The operation unit 122 can be a button, an action sensing unit, a touchunit, a pressure sensing unit, or the like. The wireless transmissionunit 206 is configured to send, and in some examples, receive, wirelesscontrol signals to/from the mobile computing device 104 wirelesscommunication unit 112 and can be configured to support any of a varietyof communication protocols, for example it may be a Bluetooth®transmission unit, or a Bluetooth® low energy transmission unit. Thewireless transmission unit 206 is configured to be connected to themobile computing device 104 by at least one wireless transmissionprotocol.

In one example, the wireless transmission unit 206 can send a uniquewireless remote device ID stored on the wireless remote 102, e.g., inmemory (not illustrated), in order to establish a connection with themobile computing device 104 operating system 106 and applicationprogram(s) 108. Once the ID is verified, the operating system 106 cangive permission to the control unit 202 for operating at least onefunction of the operating system 106 and/or one or more applicationprograms 108 installed on the mobile computing device 104. Uponreceiving permission, the control unit 202 may send control signals tothe mobile computing device 104, which can be processed by the remoteintegration application 110 for controlling one or more functions of theapplication program 108. The ID can be verified by the remoteintegration application 110 by performing an authentication procedurethrough the wireless communication unit 112. After the authentication iscompleted, the operating system 106 and wireless communication unit 112will regard the wireless remote 102 device as an authenticated wirelessdevice unit, the wireless transmission unit 206 will establish a securedconnection with the application program 108.

After the above-mentioned authentication procedure is completed, theremote integration application 110 can store the authentication result(e.g. the unique ID provided by the wireless remote 102) in the localmemory storage unit 116. As a result, when the wireless remote 102connects with the mobile computing device 104 again, the authenticationprocedure can be omitted. The local memory storage unit 116 can be aflash memory, a memory card, an optical storage medium, a hard disk, asolid-state disk (SSD) or the like.

After the wireless remote 102 is authenticated, the control unit 202 cantransmit a control signal to the mobile computing device 104 through thewireless transmission unit 206, which can be received and processed,e.g., decoded or interpreted, by the remote integration application 110to determine a corresponding instruction or operation for theapplication program 108. For example, the remote integration application110 may be configured to communicate with a plurality of GPSapplications. By being configured to communicate with a plurality of GPSapplications, the wireless remote 102 can be used as a universal remotethat may be used with any of a variety of mobile computing devices 104and any of a variety of application programs 108. For example, a usermay download or otherwise install the remote integration application 110on the mobile computing device 104 and the remote integrationapplication 110 can be configured to identify all GPS applicationprograms 108 currently installed on the mobile computing device 104. Inthe event of more than one GPS application, the remote integrationapplication 110 can prompt the user to select the GPS application he/shewishes to be controlled by the wireless remote 102. In yet anotherexample, the remote integration application 110 may include a separateand distinct GPS application for displaying maps and recordingwaypoints, which may interface with the GPS sensor 114 and may alsointerface with an existing GPS application API, such as Google Maps® APIfor performing mapping and recording operations.

Upon receipt of a control signal from the wireless remote 102 and uponreceipt of a user selection of a particular GPS program installed on themobile computing device 104, the remote integration application 110 maybe configured to determine identifying information associated with theGPS application. The remote integration application 110 may then beconfigured to determine, according to the identifying information,communication protocol information associated with the GPS application.For example, a waypoint command signal may vary depending on theparticular GPS application. After determining the communication protocolinformation, the remote integration application 110 may be configured toprocess the control signal according to the accessed communicationprotocol to determine the at least one instruction for transmission toand control of the GPS application. Thus, the remote integrationapplication 110 enables a single and universal control signal from thewireless remote 102 to control a plurality of different GPSapplications. The communication protocol information may be stored inmemory or accessed from a remote computing device, e.g., computingdevice 302 (FIG. 3).

After receiving the signal from the wireless remote 102 via the remoteintegration application 110, the application program 108 of the mobilecomputing device 104 can start a corresponding function according to thecontrol signal. In one example, the application program 108 is a GPSnavigation application and one function of the application is todetermine current location information, such as GPS coordinates,associated with a current location of the mobile computing device 104with the GPS sensor 114 and to save the location information to memory116. In some examples, the current location information can also bedisplayed on a display screen (not illustrated) of the mobile computingdevice 104 and/or the wireless remote 102. The control unit 202 of thewireless remote 102 can be configured to transmit a control signal forreceipt by the remote integration application 110, which can decodeand/or convert the control signal into a corresponding instruction forthe application program 108 for saving current location information.

In one example, the local memory storage unit 116 of the mobilecomputing device 104 further includes tables of captured informationsecurely. As shown in FIG. 3, the application program 108 can connect toa cloud based secured host (computing device 302) via connection 304(e.g., local area network, wide area network, and/or internet, etc. asis known in the art) and synchronize captured information to be accessedsecurely remotely, e.g., via an internet browser and/or remoteintegration application 110 and/or application program(s) 108.

In another example, the remote integration application 110 is configuredto count the number of locations or waypoints marked by the wirelessremote 102 via the. This counting feature may allow a user to count thenumber of fish caught or number of birds or animals seen or number ofimportant locations saved during a trip or time period, e.g., 24-hourtime period.

In another example, the remote integration program 110 is configured tosend command signals to a plurality of application programs 108installed on the mobile computing device 104. For example, in additionto communicating with a GPS navigation application, the remoteintegration application 110 can be configured to integrate the wirelessremote 102 with social media applications to automatically send locationinformation to social media contacts. Other applications can includevoice recognition applications. For example, the wireless remote 102 mayinclude a microphone (not illustrated) that a user can speak into tosend voice commands or to transmit information about a currentgeographic location (for example the type and size of fish caught at alocation). The voice data may be transmitted to the mobile computingdevice 104 for voice recognition processing and conversion to text datato be saved with the geographic location information. In one example,the wireless remote 102 may also have a display screen (notillustrated). The mobile computing device 104 may be configured totransmit the location information and additional text information to thewireless remote 102 for display on the wireless remote display screenfor review by the user. In one example, the user may push the operationunit 122 to confirm the information is correct.

In another example wireless remote 102 may also include a GPS sensor(not illustrated) for determining a current geographic location. Such anembodiment may be useful for determining a more accurate geographiclocation than is possible with GPS sensor 114 of mobile computing device104. For example, the mobile computing device 104 may have difficultlyacquiring an accurate GPS location if it is stowed in a location thatinterferes with the radio signals required by GPS sensor 114. Byseparately providing a GPS sensor 114 on the wireless remote 102, theremote may also be configured with a more accurate GPS sensor. Thecontrol unit 202 of the wireless remote 102 may then transmit thelocation information determined by the wireless remote 102 GPS sensor tothe mobile computing device 104 for processing by the remote integrationapplication 110 and application program 108.

An example process for using a software application installed on mobilecomputing device 104 can include one or more of the following steps:

-   -   1. Wireless remote integration application 110 launched.    -   2. Create an Account by the following:        -   (a) Create local account using Email Address and creating            password. Complete registration required to be completed via            App or Website.        -   (b) Facebook® Account API—App will pull relevant personal            information.        -   (c) Google® Account API—App will pull relevant personal            information.    -   3. Establish Bluetooth® Connection with Wireless remote 102        and/or setup programmability.    -   4. Wireless remote 102 set to trigger mode, App set to listen        for trigger mode (waypoint signal, e.g., click of button).    -   5. Proceed to Map Screen which can use an existing GPS program        API, e.g., Google Maps (ID    -   API, for GPS location for Way Point and Real? time data.    -   6. Upon receipt of control signal from wireless remote 102        (trigger), App can capture Way    -   Point (Longitude, Latitude) and Time/Date stamp.    -   7. Application can count and list the number of waypoints marked        during a trip or 24-hour period.    -   8. Application may also count the number of animals or things        marked at a certain location or way point during the trip or        24-hour period.    -   9. App can continue to listen for additional way point signals        from wireless remote 102    -   10. Upon completion, an option can be given to do one or more of        the following:        -   (a) Delete—for deleting the most recently captured Way            Point.        -   (b) Add Details—In one fishing-focused application, one or            more of the following can be added:            -   (a) Location Name/Title            -   (b) Description            -   (c) Fish Type            -   (d) Sporting equipment information (e.g., Lure Used)            -   (e) Lake            -   (f) Conditions        -   (c) Add Picture—Access to the mobile device's camera to            capture a picture of the experience and link it with the            current location.        -   (d) Save For Later—Allow the end?user to save the current            Way Point with a generic name (Provided by App ?i.e. Way            Point 12). End?user can access the information at a later            date or online using the secured website.    -   11. All information can be stored securely on the local mobile        device 104 with background services and sync'd securely to cloud        base database (e.g. computing device 302) using a custom web        service which can establish a secured connection between the        mobile device App and the Cloud Database. Sync can occur via        WiFi or Cellular Data packets.    -   12. Information can be accessible via dedicated secured website        and/or secured mobile App.

In another example, a process for using a software application installedon mobile computing device 104 after a user has registered an accountand is using the application a subsequent time can include one or moreof the following steps:

-   -   1. Upon relaunch of Wireless remote integration application 110.    -   2. Login information can be securely accessed using credentials        stored on mobile device 104 and/or login using credentials        authenticated via Web Service to secured cloud database.    -   3. Establish wireless Connection with Wireless remote 102 and/or        setup programmability.    -   4. Wireless remote 102 set to trigger mode, App set to listen        for trigger mode (waypoint signal, e.g., click of button).    -   5. Window opens to list of past locations with the following        options:        -   (a) Select Way Point—Way Point displayed on map with other            Way Points captured on file.        -   (b) Edit Way Point—This can allow the end?user to add            missing information or pictures to Way Point saved.        -   (c) Delete—Remove Way Point from list.    -   6. Once completed, the screen can proceed to Map Screen with        Location marked and allow the end?user to remove or create new        Way Point.    -   7. Wireless remote 102 click (trigger), App can capture Way        Point (Longitude, Latitude) and Time/Date stamp.    -   8. Application can count and list the number of way points        marked during a trip or 24-hour period.    -   9. Application may also be able to count the number of animals        or things marked at a certain location or way point during a        trip or 24-hour period.    -   10. App can proceed to listen for way point signal (trigger, or        Wireless remote 102 Click).    -   11. Upon completion, an option can be given to do one or more of        the following:        -   (a) Delete—for deleting the most recently captured Way            Point.        -   (b) Add Details—In one fishing-focused application, one or            more of the following can be added:            -   (a) Location Name/Title            -   (b) Description            -   (c) Fish Type            -   (d) Lure Used            -   (e) Lake            -   (f) Conditions        -   (c) Add Picture—Access to the mobile device's camera to            capture a picture of the experience and link it with the            current location.        -   (d) Save For Later—Allow the end?user to save the current            Way Point with a generic name (Provided by App ?i.e. Way            Point 12). End?user can access the information at a later            date or online using the secured website.    -   12. All information can be stored securely on the local mobile        device with background services and sync'd securely to cloud        base database using a custom web service which can establish a        secured connection between the mobile device App and the Cloud        Database. Sync can occur via WiFi or Cellular Data packets.    -   13. Information can be accessible via dedicated secured website        and/or secured mobile App.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention. It is noted that in the presentspecification and claims appended hereto, conjunctive language such asis used in the phrases “at least one of X, Y and Z” and “one or more ofX, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated or indicated otherwise, shallbe taken to mean that each item in the conjunctive list can be presentin any number exclusive of every other item in the list or in any numberin combination with any or all other item(s) in the conjunctive list,each of which may also be present in any number. Applying this generalrule, the conjunctive phrases in the foregoing examples in which theconjunctive list consists of X, Y, and Z shall each encompass: one ormore of X; one or more of Y; one or more of Z; one or more of X and oneor more of Y; one or more of Y and one or more of Z; one or more of Xand one or more of Z; and one or more of X, one or more of Y and one ormore of Z.

Various modifications and additions can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the variousembodiments described above may be combined with features of otherdescribed embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicityof feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore,while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments, what hasbeen described herein is merely illustrative of the application of theprinciples of the present invention. Additionally, although particularmethods herein may be illustrated and/or described as being performed ina specific order, the ordering is highly variable within ordinary skillto achieve aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, thisdescription is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not tootherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that whichis specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of saving a current geographic locationof a user with a wireless remote and a mobile computing device while theuser is performing an activity, the wireless remote including anoperation unit operably connected to a wireless transmission unit, themobile computing device including a wireless communication unit, a GPSsensor, a memory, and a processor configured to execute a remoteintegration application and a GPS application, the method comprising: auser pressing the operation unit, wherein the operation unit includes abutton or sensor disposed on a housing of the wireless remote; sending,with the wireless transmission unit, a control signal to the mobilecomputing device in response to the pressing the operation unit;receiving, with the wireless communication unit at the mobile computingdevice, the control signal; processing, with the remote integrationapplication, the control signal to determine at least one instruction;performing the at least one instruction with the GPS application inresponse to the receiving of the control signal, wherein said performingincludes: receiving, from the GPS sensor, GPS coordinates of a currentlocation of the mobile computing device; and storing the GPS coordinatesin the memory; wherein the performing the at least one instruction withthe GPS application further includes recording a number of times thecontrol signal is received within a time period; and wherein the methodfurther comprises displaying, with the mobile computing device and/orthe wireless remote, the recorded number of times the control signal isreceived within a time period.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein therecorded number of times represent a number of geographic locations thatare saved by the person.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising,receiving a user annotation for annotating the GPS coordinates stored inmemory, the user annotation including descriptive information of thelocation and a date the GPS coordinate is stored in memory.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the remote integration application isconfigured to communicate with a plurality of GPS applications, themethod further comprising: identifying, with the remote integrationapplication, identifying information associated with the GPSapplication; determining, according to the identifying information,whether the remote integration application is configured to communicatewith the GPS application; and accessing communication protocolinformation associated with the GPS application in response todetermining the remote integration application is configured tocommunicate with the GPS application; wherein the processing stepincludes processing the control signal according to the accessedcommunication protocol to determine the at least one instruction.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the remote integration application isconfigured to communicate with a plurality of GPS applications, themethod further comprising: identifying, with the remote integrationapplication, identifying information associated with the GPSapplication; accessing communication protocol information associatedwith the GPS application; wherein the processing step includesprocessing the control signal according to the accessed communicationprotocol to determine the at least one instruction.
 6. A mobilecomputing device configured to save a current geographic location of auser while the user is performing an activity, the mobile computingdevice comprising: a wireless communication unit; a processor; a memory;a global positioning system (GPS) sensor; and a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium containing machine-readable instructionsconfigured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:receiving, with the wireless communication unit, a control signal from awireless remote; processing, the control signal to determine at leastone instruction; performing the at least one instruction with a GPSapplication in response to the receiving of the control signal, whereinsaid performing includes: receiving, from the GPS sensor, GPScoordinates of a current location of the mobile computing device; andstoring the GPS coordinates in the memory; wherein the performing the atleast one instruction with the GPS application further includesrecording a number of times the control signal is received within a timeperiod; wherein the operations further comprise displaying, with themobile computing device, the recorded number of times the control signalis received within a time period.
 7. The mobile computing device ofclaim 6, wherein the recorded number of times represent a tally of anumber of GPS coordinates stored in memory.
 8. The mobile computingdevice of claim 6, wherein the operations further include, receiving auser annotation for annotating the GPS coordinates stored in memory, theuser annotation including descriptive information of the location and adate the GPS coordinate is stored in memory.
 9. The mobile computingdevice of claim 6, wherein the operations further include: determiningidentifying information associated with the GPS application; accessingcommunication protocol information associated with the GPS application;wherein the processing step includes processing the control signalaccording to the accessed communication protocol to determine the atleast one instruction.
 10. A wireless remote configured to save acurrent geographic location of a user while the user is performing anactivity, the wireless remote comprising: a wireless transmission unit;an operation unit configured to generate an operation unit signal inresponse to a user input; and a control unit configured to transmit,with the wireless transmission unit, a unique ID and a control signal toa mobile computing device in response to receipt of the operation unitsignal, wherein the unique ID and control signal are designed andconfigured to be processed by a remote integration application operatedby the mobile computing device, the remote integration applicationconfigured, in response to the processing of the control signal todetermine at least one instruction for a GPS application operated by themobile computing device, wherein the at least one instruction includesstoring GPS coordinates of a location of the mobile computing device,recording a number of times the control signal is received within a timeperiod, and displaying, with the mobile computing device and/or thewireless remote, the recorded number of times the control signal isreceived within a time period.
 11. The wireless remote of claim 10,wherein the operation unit includes a microphone configured to receivean audible voice command from the user for transmitting the at least oneinstruction to the GPS application.
 12. The wireless remote of claim 10,further comprising a housing, wherein the operation unit includes abutton or sensor disposed on the housing to record a physical touch fromthe user.
 13. The wireless remote of claim 10, further comprising ahousing, wherein the operation unit includes only one button or sensordisposed on the housing for recording a physical touch from the user.14. The wireless remote of claim 10, wherein the wireless transmissionunit is a Bluetooth® transmission unit, or a Bluetooth® low energytransmission unit.
 15. The wireless remote of claim 10, furtherincluding a housing, wherein the housing includes an attachment devicefor attaching the wireless remote to a user's body around the user'shead or neck or arm or wrist or chest or waist or leg.
 16. The wirelessremote of claim 15, wherein the attachment device includes a clip forattaching the wireless remote to a user's clothing, and/or a lanyard,and/or a keychain loop and/or a strap for wearing around a user's arm orwrist.